Olive Oil

So I read online today about olive oil and how there are many uses for it other than cooking. Tonight, before bed, I put olive oil on my skin and hair and let it sit for awhile. Then I showered and my skin feels amazingly soft! (I'll know about my hair tomorrow since it is still wet). Here are some of the other ideas this website suggested.

Cuticles and nails: If your cuticles are ragged and your nails brittle and dry, olive oil can help! Soak nails for 30 minutes in a small cup of olive oil.
Hands: Smoothe on a generous amount of olive oil before bed, put on white gloves, and go to sleep. Your hands will be softer and smoother in the morning!
Lips: To soothe and smooth dry, chapped lips, dab on a little oil.
Hair Treatment: This helps repair split ends, heals dandruff, and makes your hair shiny, silky, and lustrous. Massage a few tablespoons of olive oil into scalp and hair. Cover hair with a plastic bathing cap and leave on for 30 minutes or more, then shampoo as usual.
Skin: Massage a small amount of olive oil into skin whenever you need softening and moisturizing, Apply extra oil to rough or cracked areas.
Bath: Add several Tablespoons of olive oil to your bath, along with a few drops of your favorate essential oil, to soothe and nourish you.

A word of warning: washing off the oil, and probably bathing in it, makes the tub and shower very slick so be careful!

Dear Sara,

I found this in one of my Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook. It explains margarine and using it in cookies. I instantly thought about your last blog. Maybe it will help.

"All Margarines are not equal-especially when it comes to baking cookies. For the best results, choose stick margarines containing at least 60% vegetable oil. Spreads with less than 60% vegetable oil have a high water content and do not give satisfactory results in any type of cookie, including bar and drop cookies. Also, avoid spreads labeled diet, whipped, liquid, or soft; they are intended for table use, not for baking. Stick margarines containing corn oil will produce a soft cookie dough, so you may need to adjust the chilling instructions given in the recipe. Do not substitute cooking oil for the margarine in cookie recipes. Oil is 100% fat; margarine is an emulsion of fat and water. Substituting an equal amount of oil for margarine will produce a cookie that tastes and feels greasy."

Well there you go. I didn't know all of this!